“Don’t say it.”
“Before everything changes,” he finishes.
From upstairs, I hear footsteps. Dredyn coming back down. And from the kitchen, water running—Jasper washing dishes even now, even with everything that’s about to happen.
“Yeah, I want that too.”
We end up in Dredyn’s room because it has the biggest bed—a king that can actually fit all four of us without anyone ending up on the floor. And it’s on the third floor, away from the main common areas where the party will soon rage.
After tonight, we’ll never see it again.
The thought makes my chest tight, but I push it away. We have ninety minutes.
“Come here,” Dredyn says.
I stand, legs unsteady, and cross to him. He pulls me against his solid chest immediately, hands framing my face, tilting my head up so our eyes meet—his dark and intense, searching mine.
“I need you to know something,” he says, thumb tracing my lower lip. “Whatever happens tonight—if we make it through this plan or if we don’t—loving you was the best decision I ever made. Loving you … it changed everything. Made us better. Made us whole.”
“Dredyn—”
“Let me finish … You made us brave enough to fight back. Strong enough to choose freedom over the easy path, over comfort. You’re the reason we’re risking it all. Not revenge, not some abstract justice. You. Keeping you safe. Keeping you ours. Keeping you free.”
“No pressure,” I try to joke, but my voice cracks, tears pricking at the edges.
“All the pressure.” He kisses me then—hard, claiming, desperate, pouring everything unspoken into it. His tonguesweeps against mine, tasting of salt and urgency, and I cling to him, fingers digging into his shirt.
When he releases me, breathless and dizzy, Talon’s there, arms wrapping around me from behind, pulling me back against his lean frame. His chin rests on my shoulder, lips brushing my ear, breath warm and ragged.
“I’m terrified. This... us. This thing we’ve built, it’s the most real, most alive thing in my life. And I’m so fucking scared it’ll shatter tonight.”
I turn in his arms, pressing my palm to his chest, feeling his heart thunder beneath my hand—fast, alive,mine. “Then let’s make sure it doesn’t. Let’s make this moment count. Right now. All of it.”
“Yeah?” His hand slides into my hair, tugging gently to expose my neck. “What do you need, Princess?”
“You. All of you.”
Talon’s fingers work my jeans open from behind, sliding the denim down my hips. “Look at you, so desperate for us. Such a needy little thing.”
Dredyn unhooks my bra with one hand, the other palming my breast roughly. “Perfect fucking tits,” he growls, letting the lace fall away. His mouth descends, hot and demanding, sucking my nipple hard enough to make me cry out. “Made to be worshipped. Made to be marked.”
“Your turn,” I manage, voice already breathless.
They strip until they’re gloriously naked and surrounding me like predators who’ve finally cornered their prey.
“On your back, Hellcat. Spread those pretty legs for us.”
I comply instantly, sinking into the pillows, and they pounce—Dredyn kneeling on my right, Talon on my left, Jasper at my feet. His calloused hands glide up my calves, spreading me wider.
“Good girl.” Talon’s approval makes heat pool low in my belly. “Because you’re ours. Our perfect little slut. Our everything. Say it.”
“I’m yours,” I gasp. “All yours.”
“Damn right you are.” His hand cups my breast possessively, thumb circling the peak while Dredyn mirrors him on the other side—lips, teeth, tongue working in devastating tandem until I’m writhing, overwhelmed by dual sensations.
Jasper’s grip on my hips is bruising as he spreads me wider, eyes dark with hunger. He lowers his mouth to my inner thigh, kissing a torturous path upward. He pauses just before reaching my center, looking up with those intense green eyes.
“Please,” I beg. “Jasper, please?—”
